Avril Henry

Avril Henry graduated from the University of Cape Town in Accounting and Economics, migrating to Australia in 1980, with two suitcases, $500 and a dream to live freely and make a difference.

Avril’s career has spanned senior roles in Finance, IT Project Management, Change Management and HR. The companies she has worked for include De Beers, Barclays Bank, Midland Bank, UBS Warburg, Westpac, Merrill Lynch, DMR Consulting and Clayton Utz. She has worked in South Africa, Australia, the UK and USA.

In 2003, Avril set up her own business, focusing on Public Speaking and Consulting in Leadership, People and Performance strategies, which includes Executive Coaching.

In recent times Avril has been working with the Australian Defence Forces in the area of attraction, recruitment and retention in the army, air force and navy. In September 2006 she was appointed to the Navy Advisory Board for two years to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the Henry Report. She has also been invited to be a strategic human resources advisor to both the Chief of Navy and the Department of Defence.

Avril won the 2006 Lifetime Achievement in HR Award after being a finalist in 2004 and 2006 at the Australian HR Awards; and in 2002, was one of the five finalists in the Australian HR Awards for Best HR Director.

Avril is the author of Leadership Revelations: An Australian Perspective, released in March 2005, and Who What When and Y of Generation whY, released in 2006.